Voice of America, 96-12-03 (2 of 2)

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

[02] EURO SUMMIT (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[03] ROMANIAN VOTERS CHOOSE REFORM BY SAM HULEFELD (WASHINGTON)

[04] THE PROTESTS IN SERBIA CONTINUE BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[05] TURKEY / KURDS / IRAQ (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[06] U-S-SERBIA PROTESTS (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

[07] U-S/SERBIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: SHARE PRICES WERE UP IN TRADING TUESDAY ON WEST EUROPEAN EXCHANGES. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM OUR BUREAU IN LONDON.

TEXT: STOCK PRICES PUSHED UPWARDS IN FRANKFURT, PARIS, AND LONDON -- AND OTHER WEST EUROPEAN MARKETS AS WELL.

IN GERMANY, THE FRANKFURT MARKET CLOSED AT A RECORD HIGH FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE DAY. THE DAX-30 INDEX ENDED THE DAY UP MORE THAN 28-POINTS -- ALMOST ONE-PERCENT. IN PARIS, PRICES CLOSED AT THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL THIS YEAR, ONLY A FEW POINTS SHORT OF THE RECORD SET IN FEBRUARY OF 1994. THE CAC-40 INDEX ENDED THE DAY UP 30-POINTS, ABOUT ONE-AND-THREE-TENTHS PERCENT.

LONDON PRICES ALSO ROSE. THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED UP 23-POINTS -- ABOUT ONE-HALF-PERCENT. PRICES ALSO WERE UP IN SWITZERLAND, THE NETHERLANDS, SWEDEN, AND FINLAND.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY MARKET, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE SHARPLY AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK AND THE BRITISH POUND. THE DOLLAR WAS UNCHANGED AGAINST THE JAPANESE YEN.
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03-Dec-96 1:50 PM EST (1850 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] EURO SUMMIT (L ONLY) BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: OFFICIALS FROM THE 54 MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE ARE ENDING A TWO-DAY MEETING AIMED AT CHARTING A PATH TOWARD PEACE IN THE 21ST CENTURY. BUT AS V-O-A EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS, THE LISBON GATHERING WAS MARRED BY DEADLOCK OVER KEY SECURITY ISSUES.

TEXT: LEADERS AND DIPLOMATS AT THE TWO-DAY SECURITY MEETING HAD HOPED TO CREATE A WIDE-RANGING PLAN TO BRING, PEACE, DEMOCRACY, SECURITY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS TO EUROPE IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

BUT CONTINUED FRICTION ABOUT NATO PLANS FOR AN EASTWARD EXPANSION OF THE ALLIANCE AS WELL AS A DISPUTE BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN PROVED JUST HOW DIFFICULT SUCH A PATH WILL BE.

U-S AND EUROPEAN OFFICIALS, WHO SUPPORT NATO PLANS TO TAKE IN NEW MEMBERS, WERE NOT ABLE TO EASE RUSSIAN FEARS SUCH AN EXPANDED ALLIANCE WILL THREATEN RUSSIAN SECURITY.

BELARUS PRESIDENT ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO WAS THE LONE SUPPORTER OF THE RUSSIAN POSITION. MR. LUKASHENKO CAME UNDER STRONG CRITICISM FOR HIS RECORD ON HUMAN RIGHTS. SOME O-S-C-E MEMBERS CRITICIZED THE REFERENDUM HE HELD LAST MONTH GIVING HIM SWEEPING NEW POWERS.

WORK ON THE SUMMIT'S FINAL DECLARATION WAS ALSO HELD UP BY THE ONGOING DISPUTE ABOUT NAGORNO-KARABAKH, A MOSTLY ARMENIAN ENCLAVE LOCATED INSIDE AZERBAIJAN.

BECAUSE ALL O-S-C-E DECISIONS REQUIRE CONSENSUS AMONG THE 54 MEMBERS, DISPUTES ABOUT SUCH TERRITORIAL ISSUES MAKE BROAD POLITICAL DECLARATIONS DIFFICULT.

BUT THE TWO-DAY MEETING WAS NOT WITHOUT SUCCESS. MONDAY, THERE WAS AGREEMENT TO HOLD A NEW ROUND OF CONVENTIONAL ARMS TALKS AIMED AT REDUCING THE NUMBER OF TANKS AND TROOPS IN EUROPE. (SIGNED)
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03-Dec-96 10:48 AM EST (1548 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] ROMANIAN VOTERS CHOOSE REFORM BY SAM HULEFELD (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: ROMANIA'S RECENT ELECTIONS INDICATE THE PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF COMMUNISTS, NEO-COMMUNISTS, OR POLITICIANS OF THOSE PHILOSOPHIES CALLING THEMSELVES BY ANY OTHER NAME. IN LAST MONTH'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, CENTRIST, NON-COMMUNIST CHALLENGER EMIL CONSTANTINESCU, A UNIVERSITY GEOLOGY PROFESSOR, DEFEATED ROMANIA'S INCUMBENT FORMER-COMMUNIST PRESIDENT, ION ILIESCU. FOR AN IDEA OF HOW THE NEWS WAS VIEWED BY EDITORIAL WRITERS IN THE UNITED STATES, WE CALL ON ________________ FOR TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: OBSERVERS NOTE THAT THE ELECTIONS HAVE SET A PRECEDENT IN A COUNTRY WHICH HAS VIRTUALLY NO DEMOCRATIC TRADITION. THE FORMER SOVIET SATELLITE FELL UNDER THE HARSH RULE OF NICOLAE CEAUSESCU, THE HEAD OF ROMANIA'S COMMUNIST PARTY IN 1965. MR. CEAUSESCU AND HIS WIFE DIRECTED WHAT WAS REPUTED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL COMMUNIST REGIMES IN EASTERN EUROPE UNTIL POPULAR UPRISING LED TO THEIR DOWNFALL AND SUMMARY EXECUTION IN 1989.

THE NATIONAL SALVATION FRONT, HEADED BY ION ILIESCU, SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT. CRITICS HAVE ACCUSED THE PARTY AND ITS LEADER OF BEING NOTHING MORE THAN A DISGUISED VERSION OF THE REPRESSIVE COMMUNIST REGIME IT REPLACED.

BUT ROMANIAN VOTERS APPARENTLY HAD HAD ENOUGH, FOR IN THE RECENT ELECTION, MR. CONSTANTINESCU'S PARTY GAINED 54 PERCENT OF THE VOTE, WHICH OBSERVERS SEE AS A MAJOR STEP TOWARD INITIATING GENUINE REFORM. UNTIL NOW, THE NATION HAD SEEMED GENERALLY UNTOUCHED BY THE DEMOCRATIC CHANGES GAINING A FOOTHOLD IN EASTERN EUROPE.

WHILE AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE TURN OF EVENTS IN ROMANIA, MOST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PROCESS OF REFORM WILL BE LONG AND DIFFICULT. WE BEGIN THIS SAMPLING IN FLORIDA, WHERE THE ORLANDO SENTINEL RESPONDS TO A PERCEIVED LACK OF AMERICAN PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE RECENT ROMANIAN EVENTS.

VOICE: "WHY PAY ATTENTION TO ROMANIA IN THE FIRST PLACE? IT'S A STRATEGICALLY SITUATED COUNTRY, LINKING EUROPE WITH THE MIDDLE EAST, CENTRAL ASIA AND RUSSIA. ALSO, IN THE HISTORICALLY TROUBLED BALKANS, ROMANIA PROVIDES AN OASIS OF RELATIVE STABILITY. THAT'S A PLUS, WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE TROUBLE BOSNIA HAS HAD... BY SWEEPING ASIDE THE REMNANTS OF COMMUNIST INFLUENCE, ROMANIANS HAVE CHOSEN A COURSE THAT SHOULD LEAD THEM TO DEEPER AND FASTER REFORM, WARRANTING EVEN CLOSER TIES WITH THE UNITED STATES."

TEXT: IN THE MIDWEST, HERE IS HOW THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER INTERPRETS THE ELECTION RESULTS.

VOICE: "THE CLEAN-GOVERNMENT CANDIDATE WON [THE] PRESIDENTIAL RUNOFF ELECTION IN ROMANIA. BUT THAT IN ITSELF IS ONLY MILDLY INTERESTING. WHAT IS DRAMATICALLY REASSURING IS THAT SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE VIOLENT OVERTHROW OF THE DICTATOR NICOLAE CEAUSESCU, ROMANIANS FINALLY UPROOTED COMMUNIST RULE."

TEXT: IN RHODE ISLAND, HOWEVER, THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL-BULLETIN REMINDS US THAT [MR.] CONSTANTINESCU'S ELECTORAL VICTORY IS JUST THE BEGINNING IN A LONG AND CHALLENGING PROCESS.

VOICE: "ROMANIAN VOTERS GAVE CHALLENGER ... CONSTANTINESCU A DECISIVE VICTORY OVER INCUMBENT ION ILIESCU IN THE ... PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THIS HAS BEEN WIDELY VIEWED AS SYMBOLIZING THE NATION'S BELATED BREAK WITH ITS COMMUNIST PAST IN FAVOR OF A DEMOCRATIC FUTURE. IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW SOON -- AND HOW SUCCESSFULLY -- THE SYMBOL CAN BE TRANSLATED INTO REALITY."

TEXT: IN SOUTH CAROLINA, THE CHARLESTON POST AND COURIER STEPS BACK A BIT TO VIEW THE SITUATION IN A REGIONAL CONTEXT, TO INCLUDE BULGARIA, ROMANIA, AND LITHUANIA.

VOICE: "THE PATTERN DISCERNIBLE IN ALL THREE COUNTRIES IS SIMILAR: EUPHORIA IN THE WAKE OF THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL, FAILURE OF THE NEW GOVERNMENTS TO MATCH THE EXPECTATIONS FOLLOWED BY A RETURN TO POWER OF FORMER COMMUNISTS DISGUISED AS SOCIAL DEMOCRATS. THE THREE ELECTIONS INDICATE GREATER MATURITY ON THE PART OF THE ELECTORATE AND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF DEMOCRACIES' STRENGTHS, AS WELL AS THEIR SHORTCOMINGS."

TEXT: FINALLY, THE PRESIDENT OF FREEDOM HOUSE, ADRIAN KARATNYC, WRITING ON THE OP ED PAGE IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, OPINES:

VOICE: "THE REAL PATTERN EMERGING HERE IS THE REJECTION OF EX-COMMUNISTS OF ALL STRIPES AND THE POLITICAL COMEBACK OF ANTI-COMMUNIST REFORMERS. ... A FINAL REASON FOR THE COMMUNISTS' FALL FROM POWER IS THAT EASTERN EUROPEANS ARE RE-EXAMINING THEIR PAST -- AND THEY DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY FIND."

TEXT: THOSE COMMENTS FROM ADRIAN KARATNYCKY, IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, CONCLUDE THIS EDITION OF U-S OPINION ROUNDUP ON THE RECENT DEMOCRATIC ELECTION IN ROMANIA.
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03-Dec-96 4:16 PM EST (2116 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] THE PROTESTS IN SERBIA CONTINUE BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE PROTESTS IN THE STREETS OF BELGRADE AND OTHER SERBIAN CITIES CONTINUE. HUNDREDS OF UMBRELLA-CARRYING DEMONSTRATORS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE WET SNOW, SHOUTING THEIR OBJECTION TO THE PRESIDENCY OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC (SLO-BA-DON MEH-LO-SHE-VITCH).

NOW, THE U-S PRESS IS BEGINNING TO CRITICIZE THE WHITE HOUSE FOR NOT SHOWING SUPPORT FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BRING DEMOCRACY TO THEIR COUNTRY.

WE GET A SAMPLING FROM __________________ IN TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: THE EVENT THAT TRIGGERED THESE PROTESTS CALLING FOR THE OUSTER OF MR. MILOSEVIC WAS HIS DECISION TO ANNUL THE RESULTS OF MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN WHICH HIS PARTY LOST. THAT SO INFURIATED PEOPLE, ALREADY BESET BY A DRAMATICALLY LOWER STANDARD OF LIVING BECAUSE OF THE BOSNIAN CIVIL WAR, THAT MANY TOOK TO THE STREETS. DEMONSTRATORS ARE SHOUTING ANTI-COMMUNIST SLOGANS, AN INDICATION THEY STILL SEE MR. MILOSEVIC AS A COMMUNIST, EVEN THOUGH HIS PARTY OFFICIALLY CHANGED ITS NAME AFTER THE EUROPEAN-WIDE FALL OF COMMUNISM.

WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WITH THE OREGONIAN IN PORTLAND.

VOICE: 'IT IS IRONIC THAT SOME OF THE PROTESTERS WHO HAVE FLOODED THE STREETS OF BELGRADE, YUGOSLAVIA, IN RECENT DAYS TO OPPOSE THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT'S THEFT OF LOCAL ELECTIONS, ARE BURNING AMERICAN FLAGS. SOME OF THEM SEE THE UNITED STATES AS A TACIT SUPPORTER OF SERBIAN DICTATOR SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. ..... THERE REALLY ISN'T ANY DOUBT ABOUT WHERE THE UNITED STATES STANDS - - AND SHOULD STAND - - AND IT IS NOT BEHIND [MR.] MILOSEVIC. THE INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES ARE SERVED BY A PLURALISTIC DEMOCRACY IN SERBIA. ..... IT IS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR THAT THE UNITED STATES COULD INFLUENCE THE COURSE OF THE PROTESTS, EVEN IF IT CHOSE TO TRY BUT THE AMERICAN ATTITUDE TOWARD THE SITUATION SHOULD BE ONE OF REAL SYMPATHY TOWARD THE ANTI-MILOSEVIC FORCES. [OPT]..... THE UNITED STATES ..... MUST BE BETTER PREPARED TO AID IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN THE STATES THAT EMERGE [IN EASTERN EUROPE] FROM THE ASHES [UNDERSTOOD: "OF COMMUNISM"]."

TEXT: TAKING AN EVEN HARDER LINE WITH THE SILENCE SO FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AS REGARDS THE PROTESTS IN SERBIA, IS COLUMNIST ANTHONY LEWIS WRITING IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, WHO ASKS '"WHICH SIDE ARE WE ON?"

VOICE: "A COMMUNIST TYRANT, HUMILIATED IN ELECTIONS, ANNULS THE RESULTS. WHEN HUGE CROWDS DEMONSTRATE AGAINST HIS CORRUPT RULE, HE SILENCES PRESS AND TELEVISION COVERAGE OF THE PROTESTS. AND THROUGH THE CRISIS NO SENIOR OFFICIAL OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DEPLORES THE TYRANT'S SUPPRESSION OF DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM. THAT IS THE STRANGE RECORD OF THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE TO EVENTS IN SERBIA THESE LAST TWO WEEKS. [OPT] ..... MR. MILOSEVIC'S CYNICAL CHARACTER AS A LEADER HAD HARDLY BEEN A SECRET. TO SECURE HIS POWER, STARTING IN 1991, HE AROUSED THE DARKEST EMOTIONS OF SERBIAN NATIONALISM AND LET LOOSE THE FORCES THAT RAVAGED BOSNIA. THEN, WHEN THAT POSTURE WAS NO LONGER USEFUL TO HIM, HE PUT ON THE IMAGE OF A PEACEMAKER AND HELPED BRING ABOUT THE DAYTON AGREEMENT ON BOSNIA. [END OPT] .....THE U-S BOWS TO THIS MAN WHO HAS RUINED HIS COUNTRY AND BRUTALIZED OTHERS BECAUSE WASHINGTON THINKS HE IS NEEDED TO MAKE THE DAYTON PEACE PLAN WORK. BUT DAYTON IS NOT WORKING. AND HE HAS NOT HELPED TO CARRY OUT ITS ESSENTIAL PROVISIONS FOR FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT IN BOSNIA, RETURN OF REFUGEES TO THEIR HOMES AND ARREST OF THOSE INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES."

TEXT: TURNING TO THE MIDWEST, THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH SAYS IT IS TIME FOR THE UNITED STATES TO DISTANCE ITSELF FROM THE "SERBIAN ... TYRANT," AT THE VERY LEAST.

VOICE: "SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC IS NOT LIKELY TO BE OVERTHROWN SOON. BUT THE LIVELY, PERSISTENT PROTESTS LAST WEEK SHOULD BE A WARNING: PERHAPS IT'S TIME TO PUT SOME MORE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE WESTERN POWERS AND THE SERBIAN PETTY TYRANT. [OPT] ..... WITHOUT HIS ACQUIESCENCE AND ARM-TWISTING OF THE BOSNIAN SERBS, THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SIGNED. IN RETURN, BECAUSE MR. MILOSEVIC'S COOPERATION WAS PIVOTAL IN ENDING THE WAR, THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS HAVE TURNED A BLIND EYE TO THE STRONGMAN'S ACTIONS - - AS BOTH THE MAJOR WAR CRIMINAL OF THE BOSNIAN WAR AND A DICTATOR AT HOME. [END OPT] ..... NO ONE SHOULD DISCOUNT THE POLITICAL SHREWDNESS OF MR. MILOSEVIC. BUT THESE DEMONSTRATIONS REVEAL SOME WEAKNESS ON HIS PART AS WELL AS A GROWING DESIRE AMONG ORDINARY PEOPLE FOR THE SUBSTANCE OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE. THAT DESIRE SHOULD BE PROTECTED AND CULTIVATED."

TEXT: IN NEW ENGLAND, THE BOSTON GLOBE LAMENTS:

VOICE: "IT MAY BE UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT IT IS NONETHELESS UNFORTUNATE, THAT WASHINGTON FINDS ITSELF ENTWINED WITH [MR.] MILOSEVIC BECAUSE OF HIS PRESUMED READINESS TO COMPEL THE SERBS OF BOSNIA TO OBSERVE THE DAYTON PEACE AGREEMENT. THE UNITED STATES IS NO LESS ENTWINED WITH THE DESPOT OF ZAGREB, FRANJO TUDJMAN, WHO RETURNED FROM CANCER TREATMENT AT THE WALTER REED MEDICAL CENTER IN WASHINGTON ..... TO FIND 100-THOUSAND CROATIANS DEMONSTRATING AGAINST HIS CORRUPT, REPRESSIVE REGIME. THE DAYTON PEACE TREATY WILL JUSTIFY ITSELF IF IT CREATES CONDITIONS THAT MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR SERBS, CROATS AND BOSNIANS TO GET RID OF THEIR UNDEMOCRATIC WARTIME RULERS."

TEXT: AND FINALLY, FROM A COLUMN BY RETIRED VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR ALEX DRAGNICH, WRITING IN THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, COMES THIS:

VOICE: "IN THE NAME OF CONSISTENCY AND ITS DECENCY, THE UNITED STATES MUST NOW DECLARE THAT SERBIAN PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S NULLIFICATION OF THE RESULTS OF MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TWO WEEKS AGO IS CONTRARY TO OUR SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRACY. [OPT] SERBIA HAS BEEN SO DEMONIZED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CIVIL WAR IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA - - TOTALLY UNFAIRLY - - THAT ITS HISTORIC DEMOCRATIC TRADITIONS HAVE BEEN ERASED FROM PUBLIC MEMORY. ..... AS SERBIA MOVED IN THE 19TH CENTURY TO LIBERATE ITSELF FROM NEARLY 500 YEARS OF TURKISH RULE, IT EVOLVED A DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SYSTEM IN A SURPRISINGLY FEW DECADES. .... AMERICAN JOURNALIST JOHN REED, REPORTING FROM SERBIA ON THE COURT OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR, WROTE THAT SERBIA WAS 'ONE OF THE MOST DEMOCRATIC [COUNTRIES] IN THE WORLD......' [END OPT] IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL TO RECALL THAT THE SERBS WERE CONSTANTLY TOLD ... THE UNITED STATES DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST THE SERBIAN PEOPLE, BUT ONLY AGAINST THEIR RULERS, I.E., SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS, THE SERBS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR HOSTILITY TO THE MILOSEVIC REGIME. [MR.] MILOSEVIC MUST BE TOLD IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT UNLESS HE PERMITS THE DULY ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ASSUME OFFICE, THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT RECOGNIZE HIS RULE AS LEGITIMATE."

TEXT: WITH THOSE THOUGHTS, WE CONCLUDE THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF U-S PRESS OPINION ON THE CURRENT PROTESTS IN SERBIA AND THE UNITED STATES' RESPONSE TO THEM.
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03-Dec-96 12:57 PM EST (1757 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] TURKEY / KURDS / IRAQ (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: WESTERN AID AGENCIES HAVE ACCUSED THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT OF DISRUPTING RELIEF EFFORTS IN KURDISH-CONTROLLED NORTHERN IRAQ. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS THE AGENCIES SAY NO WESTERN RELIEF WORKERS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED INTO NORTHERN IRAQ THROUGH TURKEY SINCE AUGUST.

TEXT: THE MIDDLE EAST REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR THE THE BRITISH-BASED CHARITY "SAVE THE CHILDREN", PRAMOD UNIA, TOLD V-O-A THAT WESTERN AID WORKERS EMPLOYED BY 65 INTERNATIONAL RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING IN NORTHERN IRAQ HAVE BEEN DENIED PERMISSION BY TURKISH AUTHORITIES TO ENTER THE KURDISH-CONTROLLED ENCLAVE FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS.

MR. UNIA SAID THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT FAILED TO EXPLAIN WHY IT WAS NOT ALLOWING THE AID WORKERS IN. BUT A TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAID THE RESTRICTIONS WERE IMPOSED BECAUSE SOME OF THE AID AGENCIES WERE ENGAGED IN ACTIVITIES OVERSTEPPING THE BOUNDS OF THEIR ASSIGNED TASKS.

TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY THIS INCLUDES HELPING REBELS OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, P-K-K, WHICH HAS BASES IN NORTHERN IRAQ. THE SEPARATIST GROUP HAS BEEN WAGING A 12-YEAR LONG CAMPAIGN FOR AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE.

BRITISH AID OFFICIALS DENY EVER HAVING ENGAGED IN ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES AND SAY THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS NOT SO FAR BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY PROOF THAT THEY HAD.

MR. UNIA OF "SAVE THE CHILDREN" SAYS UNLESS PERMISSION FOR WESTERN AID WORKERS TO RETURN TO NORTHERN IRAQ IS GRANTED, HIS AGENCY WOULD BE FORCED TO END ITS OPERATIONS THERE. HE SAID EFFORTS TO SEND WORKERS THROUGH SYRIA AND IRAN AS AN ALTERNATIVE HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL, SO FAR. MEANWHILE, A TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL START WEDNESDAY TO BEGIN TO EVACUATE A FURTHER 45-HUNDRED IRAQ KURDS LINKED TO U-S AID ORGANIZATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ. THE KURDS WILL FIRST BE FLOWN TO THE TURKISH CITY OF BATMAN BEFORE BEING TRANSPORTED TO U-S BASES ON THE PACIFIC ISLAND OF GUAM.

THE MOVE FOLLOWS THE EARLIER EVACUATION LAST SEPTEMBER OF MORE THAN TWO-THOUSAND KURDS WORKING FOR U-S FUNDED OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ. (SIGNED)
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03-Dec-96 10:57 AM EST (1557 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] U-S-SERBIA PROTESTS (L) BY RON PEMSTEIN (STATE DEPARTMENT)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS CONDEMNED THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT'S CLOSURE OF TWO INDEPENDENT RADIO STATIONS. AS THE ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS CONTINUE IN BELGRADE, THE UNITED STATES IS URGING ITS EUROPEAN ALLIES TO PRESSURE SERBIA ECONOMICALLY. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT: THE UNITED STATES WANTS ITS EUROPEAN PARTNERS IN THE BOSNIA CONTACT GROUP TO SPEAK FRANKLY TO SERBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MILAN MILUNTINOVIC AT THE MEETING TAKING PLACE THIS WEEK IN LONDON. THE UNITED STATES WANTS ALL ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH SERBIA SUSPENDED UNTIL THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES THE VALIDITY OF THE NOVEMBER 17TH MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

THE UNITED STATES ALREADY WITHHOLDS ALL TRADE BENEFITS TO SERBIA AND WANTS TO BE SURE THE EUROPEAN UNION DOES NOT GRANT SERBIA ANY TRADE PRIVILEGES WHILE ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS CONTINUE IN THE BELGRADE STREETS.

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS CONDEMNS THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT FOR PUTTING INDEPENDENT RADIO STATIONS BEE-92 AND RADIO INDEX OFF THE AIR.

THE UNITED STATES CONDEMNS THIS SUPPRESSION OF THE REMAINING ELEMENTS OF THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN SERBIA. THIS IS A TRANSPARENT EFFORT TO KEEP THE SERBIAN PUBLIC IN THE DARK AND IT DEMONSTRATES THE FUNDAMENTAL LACK OF RESPECT AND THE LACK OF REGARD THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT HAS FOR DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.

THE SPOKESMAN ACCUSES THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC OF PAINTING ITSELF INTO A DARK CORNER WHERE INDEPENDENT VOICES ARE SEEN AS A THREAT. THE UNITED STATES WILL MAINTAIN ITS OWN SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA INCLUDING WITHHOLDING FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS. THESE SANCTIONS INCLUDE NO ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE OR TRADE PRIVILEGES FOR SERBIA. THE UNITED STATES WILL ALSO BLOCK SERBIA FROM TAKING YUGOSLAVIA'S SEAT AT THE UNITED NATIONS OR AT THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND AND THE WORLD BANK.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TELLS THE EUROPEAN UNION THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO TALK TO SERBIA ABOUT TRADE PREFERENCES. MR. BURNS PLAYS DOWN FEARS PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC WILL NOT COOPERATE WITH PEACE EFFORTS IN BOSNIA.

GIVEN THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN SERBIA. THE ECONOMY IS IN RUINS. UNEMPLOYMENT AND INFLATION ARE HIGH. THERE IS NO ECONOMIC GROWTH. THERE IS WIDESPREAD DESPAIR IN THE POPULATION WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR THE TENS OF THOUSANDS IF NOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN THE STREETS, THEY DON'T HAVE AN OPTION TO VIOLATE THE DAYTON ACCORDS. THEY DON'T HAVE AN OPTION TO GO BACK ON THEIR COMMITMENTS.

AS FOR THE BOSNIAN SERBS, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS ALL ECONOMIC AID WILL FLOW TO THE MUSLIM-CROAT FEDERATION IN BOSNIA IF THE SERBS CONTINUE TO BLOCK THE RETURN OF REFUGEES AND REFUSE TO TURN OVER INDICTED WAR CRIMES SUSPECTS TO THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL. (SIGNED)
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03-Dec-96 6:48 PM EST (2348 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[07] U-S/SERBIA (S ONLY) BY VICTOR BEATTIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES HAS WARNED SERBIA'S GOVERNMENT IT WOULD BE OUTRAGED IF BELGRADE USES FORCE TO PUT DOWN DAILY DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE ANNULMENT OF LAST MONTH'S MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. V-O-A'S VICTOR BEATTIE REPORTS WASHINGTON SAYS RENEWED SANCTIONS AGAINST SERBIA REMAIN A LIVE POSSIBILITY AS A FORM OF RETALIATION:

TEXT: U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT STOLE THE NOVEMBER 17TH ELECTIONS IN WHICH THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION WON KEY RACES. MR. BURNS SAYS A STIFF MESSAGE HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO BELGRADE URGING IT TO GIVE UP AN ATTEMPT TO RE-RUN THE ELECTIONS.

THE SERBIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY HAS WARNED IT WILL USE FORCE SHOULD THE DEMONSTRATIONS TURN VIOLENT. MR. BURNS SAYS PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC'S GOVERNMENT IS AWARE OF THE U-S POSITION:

OUR GOVERNMENT HAS MADE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY TO THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT AT EVERY LEVEL AND WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC ORDER AND SECURITY THAT THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE OUTRAGED IF ANY ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO USE FORCE AGAINST THE DEMONSTRATORS. THE DEMONSTRATORS HAVE A RIGHT TO BE ON THE STREETS OF BELGRADE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS PEACEFULLY AS THEY ARE CURRENTLY DOING.

AS TO REIMPOSING SANCTIONS LIFTED FOLLOWING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAYTON PEACE ACCORDS, MR. BURNS SAYS WASHINGTON RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE SUCH ACTION TO EXPRESS U-S DISPLEASURE AT WHAT HE CALLS THIS FUNDAMENTAL REFUTATION OF DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS.

AT THE SAME TIME, U-S OFFICIALS ARE PRESSING EUROPEAN ALLIES TO HOLD OFF GIVING THE RUMP YUGOSLAVIA TRADE PRIVILEGES UNTIL SERBIA RECOGNIZES THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS. (SIGNED)
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02-Dec-96 9:19 PM EST (0219 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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